Examining Mobile Banking in Developing Nations from Pro-Poor “Context, Culture, and Community” Perspective

摘要

The mobile phone is the most widely used information andrncommunication technology (ICT) among poor communitiesrnin developing nations. Mobile banking lies at thernintersection of digital and financial inclusion of thesernbottom billions. Mobile banking is a social informaticsrnphenomenon embedded in social context; its adoption andrnongoing use depends on the ability of the poor to addressrnthe barriers to using mobile phones and financial services.rnHence, the author critically examines the phenomenonrnusing a pro-poor perspective. Cultural and contextualrncharacteristics of communities significantly influence thernadoption and continued usage of ICT (World Bank, 2012).rnTo examine the challenges faced by the poor in adoptingrnand continuing to use mobile banking services, the newlyrnproposed pro-poor perspective focuses on three dimensions,rncontext, culture, and communities. Qualitative analysis ofrnstudies on the adoption of mobile banking informs therninterdisciplinary discussion on financial and digitalrninclusion in social informatics, and provides insights tornresearchers and practitioners for better serving the poorrnusing mobile technologies in developing nations.